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Every NFL Team's Best Undrafted Free Agent In Camp This Year

If there’s one thing Pittsburgh Steelers fans can be assured of with B.J. Finney, it’s that the undrafted interior offensive lineman is going to put his heart and soul into his effort to make the 53-man roster. The video above from the Wichita Eagle, which captures Finney’s emotion after signing his contract with the Steelers, says it all.

Finney knows what it takes to overcome the odds. Despite starting his career at Kansas State as a walk-on, he went on to start 52 straight games, showing durability while developing to emerge as one of the most reliable offensive linemen in college football.

There is nothing special about Finney from a physical standpoint, but he maximizes the tools he does have by playing with great effort and technique. He is not a player who will make many impact blocks at the second level of the defense, but he exhibits good functional strength to keep pass-rushers at bay and redirect run defenders.

While Finney played all but one game of his Kansas State career at center and is best suited to play that position in the NFL, he should offer the versatility to provide depth at all three interior offensive line positions.

The Steelers added five undrafted offensive linemen to their training-camp roster, which is a strong indicator that they are looking for at least one of them to earn a spot on the team. Finney’s toughest competition could come from former Auburn center Reese Dismukes, who beat Finney to win the Rimington Trophy as college football’s best center in 2014.

There are many similarities between Finney and Dismukes—both were four-year collegiate starters and are limited physical specimens who win with technique and effort over athleticism. Where Finney should have an advantage, however, is in regard to size and strength.

According to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, Finney had “a solid day” in the team’s most recent training-camp practice Friday. “Won several one-on-ones,” Fowler tweeted.